The Stages
The music and the staff were both wonderful at Shambhala this summer. But, there’s one aspect of Shambhala this year that impressed us a bit more than the rest. The upgrades to several of the stages each showed that, even though next year will be the 20th annual Shambhala Music Festival, the crew behind the scenes aren’t resting on their laurels. The improvements made throughout the festival have us dreaming about what they’ll have for us next summer.
The fenced-off burm near stage-left of the Amphitheatre was a welcomed addition, and added to the energy and atmosphere of the stage, as well as the aesthetics. The AMP is one of our favorite places to catch a set, and the improvements made this summer managed to exceed our already-high expectations for our experience at the stage. The improvements to the Grove had a similar impact on our time at Shambhala, with much more space, and places to see the stage, throughout the Grove-area. More, quality views for stages is something we’ll always get behind, especially at two unique venues like the Amphitheatre and the Grove.
The Grove – Photo Credit: Joffrey Middleton-Hope
The creation of the Cedar Lounge behind the Grove was one of our favorite new additions to the festival, with great workshops and sets taking place all weekend. We’re hoping for more from the Cedar Lounge next summer, and can’t wait to see what Shambhala has planned for their newest stage.
The AMPhitheatre’s new addition – Photo Credit: Joffrey Middleton-Hope
The changes to the Village were also brilliant, with easy access to the ‘dancefloor’ section of the stage, from everywhere. Whether you wanted to rage in the front rows or get-down with some space near the back, the Village had a way for you to navigate to and from that spot with ease. The space near stage-right, the seated areas near the new, massive glowing ball, was perfect for breaks during sets and meeting-up with the crew, something that the Village needed a bit more than other stages at the festival.
The Pagoda – Photo Credit: Joffrey Middleton-Hope
The stage-addition that was easier to notice than most, though, were the lasers at the Pagoda. Where they came from, and how they got there, doesn’t matter. What matters is, they stay there for next summer. The additional lasers on the main stage joined the already insanely impressive structure which graced the likes of Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, and more throughout the years. The additional electricity provided the perfect atmosphere for fantastic sets from REZZ, Boys Noize, Marshmello, and more throughout the weekend.
We’d like to once again thank the entire Shambhala team, staff, volunteers, and press crew for their hospitality and hard work in putting on our favorite festival. Let us know how great of a time you had at Shambhala 2016! We love The Farm, and we can’t wait to be back for the 20th anniversary next summer. Comment below, on Facebook, or reply on Twitter!
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